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Strong Lead? Suggestions


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Hi All,

Need some suggestions for a STRONG lead please.

We have a 5 month old Puli (working/herding breed) ... yes, she will be going to obedience (next week it starts), yes, we have been to puppy school ... can sit, drop, wait for food, fetch and 'give' and currently working on 'roll over' ... started last night and she nearly has it. I ahve been reading the 'trick' pages and thought this might wear her out mentally when is is pouring with rain outside. Our son did the 'push ups' exercise with her last night with great success.

Also lots of socialisation .. she is very social with people and other dogs and not too frightened of much .. except cats ... she is frightened of them for whatever reason (nice change compared to the reaction our husky used to have .... let's not go there!! :( )

Anyway, Noodle has just got her adult top teeth in the past week and even just one pull on the lead and it starts to tear ... grrr ... it is a Black Dog one too which I love!. We are trying to get her out of mouthing the lead and on the whole she is great (lots of toys and things to chew) .. but still a pup and very occassionally goes for the lead. I am so peeved as I love the Black Dog stuff .. very soft on the hands and light.

So, any suggestions on a strong lead I could get that is not HUGE (Noodle is only about 5/6kg at the moment). I do have a SPORN lead (has two handles which is fabulous and very strong) but I want a lead which is only one handle and the same sort of strength. I also have another Black Dog lead (11m tracking) that I use in the park now for fetch games (she never mouthes this) and also teaching recall as well as playing with another pup we might find in our travels ... gives a bit more freedom and Noodle is FAST, can spin on a 5c piece so I am not keen for her to be off lead).

Oh yes, I have started to use a SPORN harness on her (under the armpits not the one around the muzzle) when I go for a walk as she never touches the lead as it is out of sight and coming from the back of the neck rather than under the neck. Any other harness that would be of benefit/recommended? She walks very well on the lead on the whole and is starting to sit & drop on command when I ask her to. Also 'leave' :)

I look forward to your advice.

post-16051-1209194575_thumb.jpg

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Definitely go with a nice leather lead if you are looking for a strong lead! I wouldn't use anything else now. K9 Force has a nice selection of very strong leather leashes and the clips are brass so much stronger than many leads you buy.

http://www.k9force.net/index.html?row2col2=leashes.html

I also like the Puppia harnesses, they are nice and comfy for the dogs to wear - though not designed to stop pulling. ~Erin~ from this forum stocks them on her website:

http://www.twosmallpuppies.com/

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go to your local leather man or sadle maker with a lead design u like

get them to make it 20mm wide make sure its made out of the leather they use for horses

shouldnt cost to much

i have mine made up

Edited by cramet
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I use a leather lead from www.hamishmcbeth.com and that is fine for a 65kg dog!

The gummi ones from the petshop seem quite strong too - its woven nylon with the design stuff over top - am happy with that on Angs too.

What I have been advised is making sure that the clip on to the collar is a solid piece as this is stronger.

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if your dog is biting the lead then right now use a chain lead with a long leather handle. I can't find a picture right now. The lead clips to the collar like a regular lead but has about a foot of chain then leather and leather handle. Dog can't bite chain, soon as he is out of the habit switch to your soft lead of preference. It is just a bad habit which becomes self rewarding.

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Guest The Warden

I make my own using the same rope used on yachts (yes, there are a gazillion types) and stainless steel clips and what not (all marine grade) and if I need clips to release things quickly then I use mountain climbing gear.

There is no dog in the world that'd break them, but they also cost a lot to make.

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I say use a chain lead for now until she gets over this stage - then you can use what you like!

Trish :mad

Thank you so much for all of your suggestions .. I will follow up each one.

Never thought of the chain lead ... derr :confused: seems pretty obvious really!! Have steered away from anything chain .. due to a Puli's coat ... however, I had discounted a chain lead ... good point about it might get her through this stage (cheap option and will discourage her too).

Thanks Dol's!! :(

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I find the Black Dog leads too soft to get a good grip on as they fold in on themself and twist. I love my nylon leads from Blocky Dogs in the USA. I get the 3/4 inch 3 way adjustable lead with stainless steel snaps. Here's the link. http://www.blockydogs.com/leashes.htm

Do you use the nylon or teh polycoated in these?

Polycoated!! Thats the ones Cosmolo gets made up, I couldnt think of the word :confused:

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Never thought of the chain lead ...

I don't like chain leads .... unless they are used for the sole purpose of tethering. Teeth can get stuck in them, but more importantly they are not good for proper handling technique .... not to mention that I've seen them snap through the link.

NoodleNut ..... try basting the lower half of your lead with something like Deep Heat or Dencorub each time before you head out on lead. Keep a tube of it with you, as you'll need to re-load frequently because it does wear off reasonably quickly. In this way you are 'training' your dog not to chew on the lead. It shouldn't take too long before your dog gives up on the idea of chewing it.

I use the fibretek leads - comfortable to handle, strong and pretty much maintenance free.

Edited by Erny
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I don't like chain leads .... unless they are used for the sole purpose of tethering. Teeth can get stuck in them, but more importantly they are not good for proper handling technique .... not to mention that I've seen them snap through the link.

The other big problem with chain leads is if you are holding the lead by the chain (such as when you want the lead short and the dog close to you) and the dog takes off they can do some serious damage to your hands.

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I don't like chain leads .... unless they are used for the sole purpose of tethering. Teeth can get stuck in them, but more importantly they are not good for proper handling technique .... not to mention that I've seen them snap through the link.

The other big problem with chain leads is if you are holding the lead by the chain (such as when you want the lead short and the dog close to you) and the dog takes off they can do some serious damage to your hands.

that is why she needs the half leather half chain lead when walking. Erny I know what you are saying...the dog needs to break the habit, with a chain lead it will very quickly. A good quality lead will not snap, we use them for dogs who are strong large breeds which have learned to grab the lead and tear it in a flash ...at the shelter... Never had a stuck tooth, they give up very quickly.

Still it is just a suggestion which I know works without any fuss or nasty tastes which the dog may react to.

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I don't like chain leads .... unless they are used for the sole purpose of tethering. Teeth can get stuck in them, but more importantly they are not good for proper handling technique .... not to mention that I've seen them snap through the link.

The other big problem with chain leads is if you are holding the lead by the chain (such as when you want the lead short and the dog close to you) and the dog takes off they can do some serious damage to your hands.

that is why she needs the half leather half chain lead when walking. Erny I know what you are saying...the dog needs to break the habit, with a chain lead it will very quickly. A good quality lead will not snap, we use them for dogs who are strong large breeds which have learned to grab the lead and tear it in a flash ...at the shelter... Never had a stuck tooth, they give up very quickly.

Still it is just a suggestion which I know works without any fuss or nasty tastes which the dog may react to.

All good points Rusky, Erny and Janba.

Ahh ... the stuck tooth .... Noodle is only 21 weeks so teeth is an issue .....

Noodle lost another top tooth this morning .. one pull on the lead and it was out (6 year old is taking it for show and tell this week!) This past week Noodle has been much better but started again the past 24 hours ... lost a tooth last night chewing on a hide and another this morning with one pull on the lead .. poor thing .. this teething business is a pain. I am sure this is not helpign the lead situation .. seems to be a phase rather than an obsession or a behaviour caused by purely by excitement. Lets face it the lead fabric must feel nice on the teeth and give some relief of sorts. I think a frozen chicken neck might be for breakfast this morning ... the coolness of it usually settles her.

At this stage I am hunting around for perhaps a Lupine lead and use a harness (Lupine again or stick to my Sporn one under the armpits?) so she can't get to the lead as it comes off the back. I agree the chain is not going to be great for those teeth of hers .. I don't want to make teething any more unpleasant than it already is for her. She is lying on the floor at my feet with some softer fabric toys (stronger ones though) to gnaw on.

So, thoughts on the harness (not for control reasons .. she is not bad actually unless we are on the 'home straight' :)) just to get the lead placement further down her back so it is out of eyeshot (she is a Puli so the hair is already over the eyes ... LOL) and not noticed as much?

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